Reflections on loss without death: the lived experience of acute care nurses caring for neurologically devastated patients

The article reports the lived experiences of eight acute care nurses who cared for three patients with severe brain injury. The patients were hospitalized for months, primarily as a result of family dynamics. Semistructured interviews of the nurses were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed for common themes that described their experiences. Research focused on what the nurses experienced regarding patient care and how they interpreted their experiences. Seven themes were uncovered: fear and vulnerability, trying to connect (with patients), empathy, futility, feeling abused (by families), struggling for support (from colleagues and physicians), and seeking affirmation through physical care. General interpretations of the experience were negative.